Animal rescuers are scrambling to find homes for about 40 cats living in a Lakemore home its owner vacated.

The cats, found all over the house, are healthy, said volunteer cat trapper and rescuer Eric Schickendantz of Akron.

''Usually in a situation like this, we're dealing with starving, sick cats,'' Schickendantz said. ''That's not the case here.''

Rescuers and a relative of the property owner cleaned feces from floors this week.

''There were 20 litter boxes there, but it still needed an awful lot of cleaning and work,'' Schickendantz said.

The home is apparently in foreclosure, said Lakemore police and Schickendantz.

The relative told Schickendantz that the property owner had only one cat four years ago.

This cat was never spayed, Schickendantz said.

''This is the poster child for what can happen without spaying and neutering,'' said Schickendantz, who has received food, cleaning supplies and cat carriers from the nonprofit One-of-A-Kind Pet Rescue/Spay and Neuter Clinic in Akron.